Due diligence & BC Fire Code Responsibilities & Inspections By Alan Kavanaugh, CRM, CCPI (Member NFPA)
With the latest release of the BC
What applies in buildings
Your responsibilities
Fire Code (2018), this is an oppor-
1. Applies to all new and existing
1. You are required to maintain a
tune time to talk about what the
buildings and facilities.
safe building.
fire code means to you (the school
2. Fire Safety – Relates to specific
2. You are required to control stor-
district) and what is required to
elements of the building and
age in the building, including
facility, design or construction
service rooms, hazardous pro-
of the building, building protec-
cesses areas, classrooms, etc.
tion as prescribed based on oc-
3. You are required to maintain a
meet the various requirements listed within the code. The BC Fire Code requires that all owners of buildings shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of the fire code regardless of local fire commissioner, fire inspector or other AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) inspections. Basically it’s your building – you are required to meet all aspects of the fire code. (BCFC 2.2.1.1 – Responsibility)
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Ops Talk • Fall 2019
cupancy. 3. Safety in Use – Applies to activities related to the use of the
clear access to exits in buildings, maintain all exits, fire exit lights, and emergency lights.
building and facility, condition
4. You are required to maintain all
of the building or facility, inad-
fire protection equipment (fire
equate built-in protection for
extinguishers, fire suppression
the building or facility.
systems, fire alarms systems,
4. Designed to provide and maintain a Safe Building or Facility for all those who occupy.
sprinkler systems, standpipes, etc.). 5. You are required to provide fire
